Pile support control mechanism



E. J. GEINZER, JR

PILE SUPPORT CONTROL MECHANISM Oct. 31, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1959 Ml v .1. b

INVENTOR Elmer J. Geinzer Jr.

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Oct. 31, 1961 E. J. GEINZER, JR 3,006,638

FILE SUPPORT CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Elmer J. Geinzer, Jr.

Jaw/7w a a a a United States Patent 3,006,638 PlLE SUPPORT CONTROL MECHANISM Elmer J. Geinzer, Jr., Castle Shannon, Pa., assignor to Miller Printing Machinery Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 785,262 4 Claims. (Cl. 271-62) This invention relates to pile support control mechanism. It relates to mechanism for changing the elevation of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets, such, for example, as a feeder or delivery used in conjunction with a sheet press such as a printing press, cutting and creasing press or the like. In certain of its more specific aspects the invention relates to mechanism for raising a pile support and promoting separation of sheets from the top of a pile of sheets on the pile support in a sheet feeder.

The invention probably has its greatest utility when embodied in a sheet feeder so for purposes of explanation and illustration the invention will be described as so embodied. The mechanism employed is simpler and less complex than comparable mechanisms heretofore utilized in sheet feeders with the result of lower cost of the mechanism while at the same time providing for more accurate pile control, particularly in high speed operation. My simplified mechanism operates with great accuracy and efficiency at the unprecedented high speeds of modern operation.

I provide mechanism for changing the elevation of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets comprising means cyclically operable to detect the elevation of the top of a pile of sheets on the pile support as the height of the pile changes during operation of the apparatus, impelling means movable upon each cycle of operation of the first mentioned means, means for moving the pile support to a different elevation and means including electric means actuated by the first mentioned means when the top of the pile reaches a pre determined elevation to operatively connect the impelling means with the means for moving the pile support to a different elevation whereby to change the elevation of the pile support.

I also provide mechanism for raising a pile support and promoting separation of sheets from the top of a pile of sheets on the pile support in a sheet feeder comprising means cyclically operable to detect the elevation of the 7 top of a pile of sheets on the pile support as the height of the pile diminishes during operation of the feeder, said means having an air passage therethrough terminating in a port opening forwardly in the direction of feed, impelatively connect the impelling means with the means for I raising the pile support whereby to raise the pile support and means for forcing air through said passage and out of said port to promote separation of sheets fromthe top of the pile. The means operatively connecting the impelling means with the means for raising the pile support preferably include electric means.

The impelling means may be cyclically or continuously operable; I prefer to employ as the impelling means a continuously rotating cam which makes one complete revolution for each cycle, i.e., for the movement of each sheet to or from the pile. I preferably employ a limit switch actuated by the detecting means when the top of the pile reaches a predetermined elevation together with means controlled by the limit switch to operatively connectthe impelling means with-the means for moving the 3,006,638 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 "ice pile support to a different elevation whereby to change the elevation of the pile support. By the use of such means I greatly simplify the mechanism and eliminate complex machanical motions which have heretofore been considered necessary, while at the same time attaining, as mentioned above, a high degree of accuracy of pile control even in high speed operation.

I further provide mechanism for changing the elevation of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets comprising means cyclically operable to detect theelevation of the top of a pile of sheets on the pile support as the height of the pile changes during operation of the apparatus, impelling means movable upon each cycle of operation of the first mentioned means, pile support moving means normally movable into position to be operated by the impelling means to move the pile support to a different elevation, detent means shiftable between an operative position preventing the pile support moving means from moving into position to be operated by the impelling means and an inoperative position permitting the pile support moving means to move into position to be operated by the impelling means, a limit switch actuated by the first mentioned means when the top of the pile reaches a predetermined elevation and means controlled by the limit switch shifting the detent means to inoperative position and permitting the pile support moving means to move into position to be operated by the impelling means so that the impelling means operates the pile support moving means to move the pile support to a different elevation. Ratchet means are preferably connected with the pile support to move the pile support to a different elevation upon turning of the ratchet means, and means including pawl means are preferably provided which are normally movable into position to be operated by the impelling means to turn the ratchet means to move the pile support to a diiferent elevation. Means are provided as above referred to for inhibiting such normal movement except when the elevation of the pile support is to be changed.

. I preferably provide asupporting element cyclically movable in a generally up and down direction and disposed adjacent the pile of sheets on the pile support for carrying the detecting means. In a feeder the detecting means preferably partially underlie the rearward edge in the direction of feed of the top sheet on the pile which during the cycle has been raised to a position above-the top of the pile, the detecting means having, as mentioned above, an air passage therethrough terminating in a port opening forwardly in the direction of feed, means being provided forforcing air through said passage and out of said port to promote separation of sheets from the top of the pile. In certain-of its more specific aspects my mechanism may comprise a supporting lever mounted adjacent the pile of sheets on the pile support and cyclically swingable about a generally horizontal axis so that'the free end of the lever moves in a generally up and down direction, detecting means pivoted to the lever and guiding means for the detecting means guiding the same to seat atop the pile of sheets'upon generally downward movement of the lever to detect the elevation of the top of the pile as the height of the pile changes during operation of the apparatus. I preferably provide adjustably positionable mounting means carrying the limit switch so that the operation of the limit switch relatively to the pile of sheets may be adjusted byadjustably positioning the mounting means. 7

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention 0 will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred'embodim'ent thereof proceeds.

In'the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in-which Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there r is provided a pile support designated generally by reference numeral 2 having thereon a pile 3 of sheets. While in its broader aspects the pile support may be in a delivery or other mechanism in which during operation the pile support is moved progressively downwardly, it will be considered for purposes of explanation and illustration as being a part of a sheet feeder for feeding sheets to a press or other mechanism in which the sheets are operated upon in which during operation the pile support is moved progressively upwardly. The sheets, may be fed singly or in stream (overlapping), the particular feeder illustrated being a stream feeder.

The feeder includes a plurality of sheet separating devices 4 each having a suction foot 5 at its lower end as shown in FIGURE 1. The sheet separating devices may be of conventional form and conventionally operated' so they are not shown in detail and the mechanism for operating them is likewise not shown in detail. They are mounted to move generally vertically in guides 55 in a supporting structure 56. Each separating device 4v has fastened thereto a collar 57, and a compression coil spring 58 bearing between the corresponding upper guide 55 and collar 57 urges the separating device downwardly. A pin 59 projects from each collar 57 and is received between the arms of a yoke or fork 60 formed on the end of an arm 61 of a double armed lever 62 mounted to turn on a shaft 6 and having an arm 63 extending generally toward the right and somewhat upwardly. A set screw 64 is threaded through the extremity of arm 63 and is adapted to be clamped in desired adjusted posi tions by a nut 65.. The head of the screw 64 abuts 'a stop member 66 carried by the supporting structure 56, thus limiting the turning of the lever 62 in the. counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 6; viewing FIGURE 1. The arm 61 carries a stud 67' having a cam following roller 68' rotatably mounted thereon. A cam 69' is fixed to a rotating shaft 13 and engages the roller 68, the contour of the cam 69 being such that as it rotates it, causes the arm 61 to swing up and down about the axis of the shaft 6, oscillating the. sheet separating device 4 in the guides 55. The sheet separating devices move downwardly against or very close to. the top of the pile adjacent the rear edge, thereofwhereupon suction is imparted to the suction feet through a suction hose 70 and the sheet separating devices are then raised carrying upwardly with them the rearward end of the topsheet on the pile. The separating devices may then be moved forwardly or toward the left viewing FIGURE 1 to advance the top sheet or the sheet may be taken and 1 advanced by other means, not shown, as well known to those skilled. in the art, which is the case with the embodiment shown. The suction is released at the appropriate time as known to those skilled in the art and before the sheet, separating devices return to their position above the pile adjacent the rear edge thereof; as shown in FIGURE 1 ready for repetition of the cycle. In a stream feeder each sheet is thus advanced only a comparatively short distance and partly overlies or overlaps the sheet below until the mechanism to which the sheets are being fed takesthem one at a time from the leading end of the stream.

All ofthe mechanismthus far described may be conventional and well known to those skilled in the art and hence is disclosed only to the extentrequired to enable those skilled in the art ,to understand that the; overall operation is the operation of, a, stream feederj Pivotally mounted on the shaft 6 is an arm 7 which extends in a generally horizontal direction to the left from the shaft 6 as shown in FIGURE 1. The arm 7 carries a stud 10 having a cam following roller 11 rotatably mounted thereon. A cam 12 is fixed to the rotating shaft 13 and engages the roller 11, the contour of the cam 12 being such that as it rotates it causes the arm 7 to swing up and down about the axis of the shaft 6. The arm 7 partakes of one cycle of up and down swinging movement for each revolution of the shaft 13 and cam 12.

Pivoted to the arm 7 at 14 is a bracket 15 having therein a cam groove 16' receiving a pin 17 mounted in stationary position on the machine frame. Clamped to the bracket 15 by clamping means 18 is a generally vertically oriented hollow stem 19 having a foot 20 at its bottom. An air passage 21 extends through the stem 19 and terminatesin the foot in a port 22 opening forwardly in the direction of feed or toward the left viewing FIG- URE 1.. A flexible hose 23 is fastened to the upper end of the stem 19 and extends through a control valve to an air blower, not shown, the air blower and control valve being designed so that by operation of the valve blasts of air may be emitted from the port 22 at desired times in the. cycle; or, if desired, a continuous jet of air may issue from the port 22. V

A double armed lever 71 is mounted on the shaft 6, having an arm 24 extending generally toward the left viewing FIGURE 1 and an arm 25 extending generally toward the right and somewhat upwardly. A set screw 26 is threaded through the extremity of arm 25 and is adapted to be clamped in desired adjusted positions by a nut 27. The extremity 28 of, the set screw 26 abuts a stop member 29, thus positioning the lever 71. The exact position of the lever may be adjusted by adjustment of the set screw, The lever 71 carries a limit switch 8 having a switch operating roller 9. The lever 71 is urged in the counterclockwise direction, Viewing FIGURE 1, by a tension coil spring 72.

The arm 7 carries a switch operating member 30 which, when the top of the pile 3 is lowered a predetermined distance, engages the switch operating roller 9 to operate the limit switch 8.

The mechanism just described passes through one complete cycle for each revolution of the cam 12. The arm 7' moves downwardly or in the counterclockwise direction about theaxis of the shaft 6 and the cam groove 16 cooperating with the fixed pin 17 causes the lower end of the stem' 19 carrying the foot 20 to swing to the left viewing FIGURE 1 and downwardly so that the foot rests upon the top of the pile (except for the top sheet) to detect the elevation of the top of the pile. That movement is synchronized to the movement of the sheet separating devices so that at the time the foot, 20 comes to rest atop the pile the rear edge of the top sheet has been raised by the sheet separating devices and the foot therefore moves in under the rear edge of the top sheet. The foot comes to rest atop the pile and emits a blast or jet of air through the port 22, the blast passing toward the left viewing FIGURE 1 and promoting separation of the top sheet from the pile to enable it to be moved forward or toward the left by the sheet separating and/or forwarding devices. The pile support remains stationary unless the, switch operating member 30 moves down. far enough to engage the switch operating roller 9 in which case mechanism presently to be described operates to raise the pile support. As the cam 12 continues its rotation it raises the. arm 7 and the bracket 15 carrying the stem 19 is raised and moved to the right from its position atop the pile, the raised position being shown in FIGURE 1. 'The sheet separating devices release the top sheet and all elements of the mechanism are ready for repetition of the cycle.

It will be understood that while only one arm 7 and mechanism carried thereby and only one lever 71 have been described a plurality thereof may be employed arranged side by side, and normally at least two such mechanisms will be utilized in a feeder.

The pile support 2 may be mounted and operated in a manner customary in the art, e.g., by worms meshing with worm wheels which upon being turned raised the pile support. The worms may be fixed to a shaft 31 arranged generally horizontally and mounted for rotation in the frame of the machine. Fixed to the shaft 31 is a ratchet 32 with which cooperates a pawl 33 to turn the ratchet 32 and hence the shaft 31 in the clockwise direction viewing FIGURE 2. The meshing of the worms and worm wheels prevents retrograde turning of the shaft 31 when the pawl 33 is out of mesh with the teeth of the ratchet 32. Since the worm and worm wheel mechanism for raising the pile support may be conventional and well known to those skilled in the art it is not shown in the drawings.

Mounted upon the shaft 31 for limited turning movement about the axis of that shaft is a collar 34 to which the pawl 33 is pivoted at 35. A tension coil spring 36 is biased between a point on the collar 34 adjacent the pivotal connection thereto at 35 of the pawl 33 and a point 37 on the machine frame so that the collar 34 is at all times urged to turn in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 2 about the axis of the shaft 31. Mounted on the collar 34 at 38 is a cam following roller 39. The cam following roller 39 is adapted to bear against an eccentric cam 40 carried by a shaft 41 which constantly rotates during operation of the feeder., The mechanism thus far described would cause the eccentric cam 40 and the spring 36 to oscillate the collar 34 through a limited angle about the axis of the shaft 31. Upon turning of the collar 34 in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 2 the pawl 33 will ride up over the teeth of the ratchet 32 'but when the collar turns in the clockwise direction the pawl 33 engages with the teeth of the ratchet 32 and turns the ratchet and hence the shaft 31 in the clockwise direction as above mentioned. &1ch turning of the shaft 31 which carries the worms operating the worm wheels results in raising of the pile through a small increment upon each turning of the collar 34 in the clockwise direction viewing FIGURE 2.

However, the continuously rotating eccentric cam 40 and the spring 36 do not oscillate the collar 34 upon each revolution of the cam 40 as that would cause the pile support to be raised too fast. The pile support is raised only when the switch operating member 30 above described engages the switch operating roller 9 of the limit switch 8 so as to operate the limit switch. Such operation completes the circuit through a source of power and a solenoid 42. The movable element of the solenoid 42 extends downwardly viewing FIGURE 2 and is designated 43. It is pivotally connected at 44 with a link 45 which is in turn pivotally connected at 46 with a detent 47 pivoted at 48 to the machine frame. A tension coil spring 49 biased between a point 50 on the detent 47 and a point 51 on the machine frame normally urges the detent 47 downwardly or to turn in the clockwise direction about the axis of its pivot 48 viewing FIGURE 2. Such movement of the detent is limited by a stop pin 52 in the machine frame. The detent occupies the position shown in FIGURE 2 except when the solenoid 42 is energized. Energizing of the solenoid 42 causes the detent 47 to move upwardly or to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot 48. Its amplitude of movement is small and need be only a minor fraction of an inch.

The collar 34 carries a stop member 53 adapted to engage with the nose 54 of the detent 47 when the detent is in its operative position as shown in FIGURE 2. When the detent is in that position its engagement with the stop member 53 prevents the collar 34 from being turned by the spring 36 in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 2 so when the eccentric cam 40 rotates it simply parts contact with the roller 39 during the greater '6 part of its revolution and does not have'the effect of turning the shaft 31.

Thus it will be seen that during operation of the feeder the shaft 41 turns continuously and the eccentric cam 40 is potentially capable, in cooperation with the spring 36, of oscillating the collar 34 upon each revolution of the shaft 41 and hence causing the pile support to rise through a predetermined increment upon each.

rotation of the shaft 41. But the cam 40 is prevented from causing the pile support to rise when the detent 47 is in its operative position as shown in FIGURE 2 because when the detent is in that position the collar 34 is prevented by engagement of the stop member 53 with the nose 54 of the detent from turning in the counterclockwise direction. Hence the cam 40 parts contact with the roller 39 and has no effect on the pile support. But when the detent 47 is raised to clear the stop member 53, which occurs when the solenoid 42 is energized by engagement of the switch operating member 30 with the switch operating roller 9,' the continuously rotating eccentric cam 40 is allowed to function in combination with the spring 36 to oscillate the collar 34 to cause the pawl 33 through engagement with the ratchet 32 to turn the shaft 31.

The mechanism thus employed which includes the electrical means described is greatly simplified in relation to mechanisms previously utilized for accomplishment of the same function, reducing the cost of the apparatus and at the same time insuring greater accuracy of pile control, particularly at high speeds of operation. Also the separation of the top sheet from the pile is promoted by the blower arrangement described which is embodied in the means for detecting the elevation of the top of the pile. The mechanism is unprecedentedly simple and inexpensive while at the same time highly eflicient and accurate in its operation for performing the described functions.

As is made clear by the foregoing description, the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained is determined by the adjustment of the set screw 26 which in turn determines the position of the limit switch 8 having the switch operating roller 9. The pile support is raised only when the limit switch is closed by the switch operating member 30. Hence the higher the limit switch is positioned the less distance downwardly will the switch operating member 30 have to move before engaging the switch operating roller 9 and closing the switch 8 and the higher will be the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained. The mechanism described provides an extremely simple yet fully effective way of adjusting the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. Mechanism for changing the elevation of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets carried by the pile support to maintain the top of the pile of sheets at a predetermined elevation comprising electric means including a mounting member, a switch mounted on the mounting member, means cyclically operable in a path as sheets are moved to or from the pile to detect the elevation of the top of the pile and in relation to the switch operating the switch when the switch is in the path of such means, means operable upon operation of the switch for changing the elevation of the pile support and means for adjustably positioning the mounting member to in turn adjustably position the switch in relation to said cyclically operable means to predetermine when the switch will be operated thereby and hence predetermine the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained.

2. Mechanism for changing the elevation of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets carried by the pile support to maintain the top of the pileof sheets at a predetermined elevation comprising electric means' including a pivoted mounting member, a switch mounted on the pivoted mounting member, means cyclically operable in a path as sheets are moved to or from the pile to detect the elevation of the top of the pile and in relation to the switch operating the switch-when the switch is in thepath of such means, means operable upon operation of the switch for changing the elevation of the pile support and means for adjustably positioning the pivoted mounting member in relation 'to said cyclically operable means to adjustably position the switch relatively thereto to predetermine when the switch will be operated therebyand hence predetermine the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained. Y

3. Mechanism for changing the elevation'of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets carried by the pile support to maintain the top of the pile of sheets at a predetermined elevation comprising electric means including a pivoted mounting memher, a switch mounted on the pivoted mounting member, means'including an element pivoted coaxially with said pivoted mounting member cyclically operable in a path as sheets are moved to or from the pile to detect the elevation of the top of the pile and with said element moving in relation to the switch operating theswitch when the switch is in the path of said element, means operable upon operation of the switch for changing the elevation of the pile support and means for adjustably positioning the pivoted mounting member in relation to said element of said cyclically operable means to adjustably position the switch relatively to said element to predetermine when the switch will be operated thereby and hence predetermine the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained. 7

i 4. Mechanism for changing the elevation of a pile support in apparatus for moving sheets to or from a pile of sheets carried by the pile support to maintain the top of the pile of sheets at a predetermined elevation comprising electric means including a pivoted doublearmed lever, a switchmounted on one arm of the pivoted double-armed lever, means cyclically operable in a path as sheets are moved toor from the pile to detect the elevation of the'top of the pile and in relation to the switch operating the switch when the switch is in the path of such means, means operable upon operation of the switch for changing the elevation of the pile support and means connected with the other arm of the double armed lever for turning the double-armed lever to desiredadjusted positions in relation to said cyclically operable means to adjustably position the switch relatively thereto to predetermine when the switch will be operated thereby and'hence predetermine the elevation at which the top of the pile is maintained.

References Cited in the file. of this patent 

